Atomizer



March 25, 1941. w. A. WELLS ATOMIZER Filed July 8, 1938 gwum vbob v Wad/WA Wells,

Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Walter A. Wells, Washington, D. 0. Application July 8, 1938, Serial No. 218,225

3 Claims.

The present invention is directed to improvements in atomizers adapted primarily for medical use, but is not necessarily limited to such use.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an atomizer formed wholly from glass or any other transparent material suitable for the purpose in order that should any of the tubes of ducts become clogged the location of the obstruction may be readily seen and quickly removed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an atomizer formed in one piece and so constructed that all joints and sharp angles will be eliminated so that free and unobstructed flow I of the solution is assured, and by forming the same without any metal parts objectionable corrosion is positively eliminated. Obviously by eliminating corrosion, danger of deteriorating chemical change in the solution is eliminated. It is well known that some solutions undergo chemical changes by contact with metal and are detrimental to health if used, and it is to overcome such objection that the present invention has been perfected.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide an atomizer so constructed that a part of the solution from the main body of the atomizer can be upon tilting the body caused to flow and collect ina reservoir and retained therein for atomization, the reservoirs being disposed above the plane of the atomizing tubes in order that slight pressure only upon the hand bulbs will be necessary to draw the solution from the reservoirs owing to the gravitative ac- -tion of the solution to a point for efiective atomization. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide separate reservoirs which will hold only the amount of fluid or solution to be atomized for one treatment without disturbing the main supply. 7

This is a distinct advantage since it is well known that the passage of air through certain fluids by frequent atomization will cause deterioration, especially of fluids containing iodine which are much used for medical purposes.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 3 is a similar view of another modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a similar view of still another form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, I designates the main body of the atomizer as shown in Figure 1, the same being formed from a single piece of suitable transparent material, the body having a filling neck 2. The .body is formed below the 5 neck 2 with a depending annular portion constituting a reservoir 4. Extending transversely through the body is a tube 5, the bore thereof having one end opening into the nipple 6, and

it is to this nipple that the rubber tube of the usual hand bulb is attached,,and since. the tube and bulb are of customary construction they are not shown on the drawing. a

Diametrically opposite the nipple 6 is a neck 1 having .an air receivingchamber 8 therein which communicates .With. the inner end of the tube 5 and also with the atomizing tube 9 which is concentrically disposed within the nozzle Ill and annually spaced therefrom in order that the solution from the reservoir will gravitate to the space confining the tube 9 through the duct H formed in the bridge-piece 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A glass stopper l3 normally closes the filling neck 2. v

In Figure 2 the body !4 includes a neck l5 and formed interiorly of the body is a vertical partition It having a solution entrance opening I! in itsupper portion which opens into the. reservoir l8 formed in the bridge-piece l9, said bridgepiece being in communication with the nozzle 20' through the duct 2|. The atomizing tube 22in the nozzle 20 hasv its inner end, communicating with the air chamber 23, therebeing a nipple 24- disposed at right angles to the tube and nozzle the bore 24 communicating with the air chamber 23, and it'is to this nipple that the usual bulb tube is attached. The neck I5. is normally closed b-y-a stopper25, andifdesired the stopper may be provided with a vent 26 adapted to be brought into registration with a vent 21 formed in the neck I5. When the respective vents are in registration any vacuum which may be present and retard the free flow of the solution, will be relieved. Obviously when the vents are out of registration the vacuum present will prevent the solution remaining in the tubes and ducts from dripping therefrom.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the body 28 has a neck 29 and a stopper 3!] therefor, and in this form of the invention the body is bowed outwardly, as at 3|, and confined within the bowed portion is an annular wall 32 having free communication with the body 28. The location of the wall 32 is such that, a reservoir 33 is provided which communicates with the nozzle 34 through the duct 35 formed in the bridge piece 36. The atomizing tube 31 in the nozzle 34 communicates with the air chamber 38 formed in the neck 39. As in Figure 1 there is a tube 40 extending transversely through the body 28, the inner end of which opens into the chamber 38, while the outer end thereof communicates with the nipple 4| to which the bulb tube is attached.

In Figure 4 the body of the atomizer has an upper :portion 43, the wall thereof being curved outwardly, there being a filling neck 44 on the upper end thereof and normally closed by a stopper 45.

Extending transversely within the portion 43 is a transverse partition 46 including a curved bottom 41 and a vertically extending curved wall 48, which define a transversely disposed reservoir 49.

' The wall 48 is spaced from the adjacent part of the wall of the portion 43 to provide a passage 50 affording communication between the body 42 and the reservoir 49. The reservoir 49 is in communication with the nozzle through the duct 52 formed in the bridge-piece 53, there being an atomizing tube 54 in said nozzle which communicates with the air chamber 55 in order that air passing through the transversely disposed tube 56 in the body 42 will enter the chamber 55 and thence into the tube 54. A nipple 51 communicates with the tube 56 and to which the bulb tube is connected.

The respective reservoirs may be of such size as to each hold a maximum dose of solution, or they may be graduated for holding doses of less than their capacities.

Briefly the operation. of the form shown in Figure 1 is a follows: After the solution has been poured into the body I to a level preferably in a plane with or slightly above the nozzle 9 the body is tilted to an angle to permit the solution from the body to enter the reservoir 4, after which the body is returned to an upright position. Since the reservoir is in communication nozzle 9 through the duct ll some of the solution will enter the same, but due to the fact that the stopper l3 tightly closes the neck 2, the vacuum present will prevent this solution from dripping from the nozzle ill, but will assure the presence of a small quantity of the solution in the nozzle so that when the bulb is compressed air under slight pressure passing through the tube 5 and into the tube 9 will assure an immediate atomization, since the solution in the duct [0 serves, in effect, as a priming fluid. In this manner the first compression of the bulb will cause an atomization, whereas in known forms of atomizers the solution has to be drawn from the body of the atomizer by repeatedly compressing a bulb before atomization takes place.

The operation of the form shown in Fig. 2

is substantially the same as that described in Fig. 1, since the body I4 is tilted until the solution therein flows through the opening I! into the reservoir l8, the atomization then being had by the air passing through the nipple 24, air chamber 23 and atomizing tube 29.

Since the form shown in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that of Fig. 1 it is thought the description of the latter will suffice for the former.

In Fig. 4 it will be obvious that upon tilting the body 42 that the solution therefrom will flow through the passage 50 and from thence into the reservoir 49, after which the air from the bulb passes through the tube 56, air chamber 55 and into the tube 54, and will set up the atomization operation.

As shown in Fig. 2 the vents 26 and 21 are in registry, and when such is the case a more rapid flow of the solution for atomization will take place. It will therefore be seen that effective atomization may be accomplished with the vents in registration or out of registration.

By minor changes in the construction the tubes now utilized for the atomizing air may be placed in direct communication with the reservoirs and the atomizing air be directed into the nozzles and around the atomizing tubes.

What is claimed is:

1. An atomizer comprising a solution containing body having a reservoir in its upper portion, an air conducting tube traversing the body, a nozzle having an atomizing tube therein in communication with the air tube, the reservoir being in a plane above the plane of said tubes and nozzle for receiving solution from the body, said body having a duct therein affording communi cation between the reservoir and nozzle.

2. An atomizer comprising a solution containing body having a reservoir carried thereby and in a plane above the normal level of the solution in the body, whereby solution from the body will pass therefrom into the reservoir when the body is tilted, a nozzle below the plane of the reservoir and communicating therewith, and means for effecting atomization of the solution in the nozzle.

3. An. atomizer comprising a solution containing body having a reservoir carried thereby and above the normal level of the solution in the body, whereby solution will pass into the reservoir upon tilting the body, an air conducting tube traversing the body, a nozzle having an atomizing tube therein, a neck connecting the nozzle and body and having an air chamber therein affording communication between the air tube and atomizing tube, and means for conducting solution from the reservoir to the nozzle.

WALTER A. WELLS. 

